For Comcast’s Atlanta customers, this deal has been a loser and a step backwards. The SEC Network on Peachtree TV has only been showing up in standard definition. A lot of people are wondering what’s going on. Peachtree TV has apparently been bombarded with enough questions about this topic that they’ve put up an FAQ about it:

SEC games are shot and aired in native 1080i high definition. Not all providers carry Peachtree TV in HD. You will need to check with your cable or satellite provider to see if it is available to you. Please note: Comcast airs Peachtree TV in HD only during Primetime hours for Braves games coverage.

From the information Peachtree TV has given, the ball is completely in Comcast’s court. And it’s true, Comcast does activate an HD feed of Peachtree TV for Braves games (channel 802 in my area). Channel 802 is nothing but a test pattern on Saturday afternoons.

It’s an especially swift kick in the groin knowing that I can change channels and find good old Jefferson-Pilot broadcasts of ACC football in glorious HD. Regional broadcasts of SEC games along the Jefferson-Pilot / Lincoln Financial network were in HD last year. The return of the games to standard def, new-and-improved branding and all, isn’t a move in the right direction.

Again, this isn’t a matter of limited HD capacity which keeps channels like ESPNU-HD unavailable. Comcast is converting much of the Atlanta area during the fall over to a digital signal which will allow for greater capacity and additional HD channels very soon (better late than never). But in the case of Peachtree TV, the capacity is already there on channel 802.

PS…the AJC warns us that this weekend’s game with Arizona State won’t be on basic Comcast cable. ESPNU is part of the Sports and Entertainment package which, I must admit, is well worth the $5 per month. Fork it over even if ESPNU won’t be in HD yet.

Comments

4 Responses to 'Comcast shortchanging Atlanta SEC fans'

Comcast is totally dropping the ball on this. I work for a small independent cable operator in middle Georgia that only serves about 10,000 subscribers and even we have the SEC Network games and ESPNU in HD. You don’t even need to buy a a special tier to get it. If you have the HD package you get ALL 35 of the HD channels we offer except for premiums like HBO and Cinemax. I think Comcast has a few more HD channels than we do but at least we get this right.

Comcast isn’t very in tune with their customer base when marketing/providing their SEC package.

Really, this is no surprise. Comcast is notorious for not stepping up to the plate and instead consistently delivering subpar service. I seem to remember Comcast in the news lately for being dead last in customer service rankings. Can’t stand them.

I wish I had changed over to AT&T cable. Comcast was supposed to upgrade HD to include more channels on September 15, but now has delayed until October 20. It looks like no Georgia game for me to watch this weekend. Last year they cut cable by accident and I had to take day off to accomodate them for reconnection. Consumers need more choice and regulation in cable and health insurance. Both are monopolies and provide poor service.

As much as we are paying each month for Comcast, you’d think they’d carry the HD broadcasts every time it’s available to Comcast. So don’t pay any attention to their advertisements about how many HD channels they carry–when they won’t broadcast this one which is available to them and so important to so many fans in the Comcast area.